Organise an event

Two ladies at a charity fundraising ball

Want to do something a bit different? Why not organise your own event?

Our work is funded entirely by voluntary donations – we couldn't continue our life-saving work without you.

Organising your own fundraising event may seem a bit daunting, but we can help you have fun, stay safe and attract support to make your event a real success.

Planning your eventWhen planning an event, there are a few things to think about:

Location
Five ladies at a charity fundraising ball

Five ladies at a charity fundraising ball

Research your venue well and make sure it has all the facilities you need. Do you need to organise toilets or is there good access for people with disabilities?

Date and time
Choosing an appropriate date and time to hold your event is crucial – would organising an afternoon tea be better than an evening event? Think about who you want to invite and what time is most suitable for them.

Cost
Put together a realistic budget of possible costs – you might need to spend money on eye-catching outfits, printing invitations or paying caterers.

Fundraising
Volunteer fundraiser with sponsorship forms

Volunteer fundraiser with sponsorship forms

Think of creative ways to make fundraising ideas fun for your guests. You could raise money through ticket sales, auctions, raffles or a collection at your local pub.

Guest list and invitations
Consider who you would like to invite and how you'll let them know about your event.

Publicity
Spread the word through posters, flyers, print adverts and radio announcements. We can provide a press release template for you to send to local newspapers.

Volunteers
A volunteer fundraiser abseiling

Recruit volunteers to help with the preparations and on the day of the event.

Keep it legal
Your event may require permission from the police, your local council or even the charity. Give your local authority a quick call to check what you need to do.

Insurance
You may require public liability insurance so make sure you have adequate insurance for your event. You'll need to check that your suppliers have got insurance too. If you need more advice, please get in touch and we'll be happy to help.

Health and safety
A band singing at a fundraising event

Check with us to consider all health and safety issues if you are organising a large event – from food hygiene to fire regulations, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Raffles
You can hold raffles but please check with us as there are certain restrictions with each type of raffle.

Read more: Volunteering opportunities | Hear from other fundraisers

Find out moreTo find out more about organising your own event or fundraising activity, please contact:

Katie Carson Tel: 020 7404 0808 Email: community@childrenwithcancer.org.uk